Lakester

[Rick L]

My next project will be a belly tank racer. I will vacuform the body using model board for the plug. I turned  each station to P38 aircraft specs with a .149 hole running down the middle of each one then cut each station 1/2” in thickness resulting in 13 “doughnuts”. Then, I cut them in half and will glue them together to layout on a platen that will have a .149 half rod down the middle for alignment. The photo shows the stations put together laying on an alignment rod unglued and unsanded at this time. I will do the same with the other stations to make two identical halves. I’ll keep updating as I go along whenever my honey loosens the leash.

Edited March 7, 2021 by Rick L

[SpeedShift]

Very cool. If you want to sell any vacuum formed shots let me know.

Like to do a belly tank in 1/25th myself.

 

[Rick L]

 I’ve built models and prototypes professionally for 40 years and couldn’t really build for pleasure during those years until I retired. I don’t have much of a junk yard at this point so maybe we could make some trades.

 

 

 

 

 

[cobraman]

Cool project. I will be following. Good luck .

[SpeedShift]

3 hours ago, Rick L said:

 I’ve built models and prototypes professionally for 40 years and couldn’t really build for pleasure during those years until I retired. I don’t have much of a junk yard at this point so maybe we could make some trades.

 

 

 

 

 

What engine do you have in mind?

[Rick L]

Flathead, definitely.

[Rick L]

Moving right along, I finished my master and made silicone rubber molds to cast solid vacuum form plugs. I formed the halves with .062 thick polystyrene. I will attach a .03 flange all around the top half with MEK and pass them around to friends. The last photo shows a converted master top for my personal use. I’m planning on casting this with a clear .062 PETG sheet in order to mask off the canopy and paint the rest. This will look similar to the 2013 GM belly tank. 

[OldNYJim]

This is looking GREAT!  I’d definitely be interested in purchasing a copy of one of these if you were ever to consider forming any extras!

Great work!

[Ralph Henderson]

nice work and tutorial. Thanks for the ride along!

[Bainford]

Cool project. This will be interesting to watch.

[Rocking Rodney Rat]

This looks like the body is coming along. Check out the pix here for some ideas: https://public.fotki.com/jferren/kr-kustomsrods-bell/ 

I'll be checking your progress! -RRR

[DustyMojave]

Interesting stuff to me.

This is me in the Kelly & Hall belly tank a few years ago at El Mirage Dry Lake, a few miles from my house.

 

The 1st race car I ever sat in was Tom Beatty's in the 1950s when I was about 2 years old. This photo was taken by my dad.

Tom and Fat Eddy at El Mirage. 1st car to break 200mph at El Mirage. Was done using a wrecking yard Olds Rocket engine. He had previously used a Ford flat head that he was the 1st to break 180mph there.

And you were correct to model your belly tank body using a P38 drop tank. That's what Tom's car used for a body. Tom lived 1/4 mile across the rail road tracks from Lockheed Burbank, where P38s were built. Note that the belly of his car does not have a flat spot.

[Rick L]

The flat spot in the belly is to get the body to sit slightly lower for the tires that I’m using.

[DustyMojave]

I am perfectly aware of why some put flat spots on the belly.

I was pointing out that one of the most iconic belly tank cars did NOT use a flat spot.

[misterNNL]

BTW if you're considering casting this plz add me to the list of interested builders!